Display device



P. J. MESS/ER.

DISPLAY DEVICE. APPLICATION-Hui!) Aumzs. 1920.

Patented Nov. 211, 1922.

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3 A A Vv r 1 4 0 I w 8 i Q 7 a w bkm\\ \/g M/ VENTUR WITNESSES Patented Nov. 21, 92a.

. )1. Alan FETER'J. MESSER, OF OLEAN, NEW YORK.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application filed August 25, 1920.. Serial No. 405,934.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. MESSER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of @lean, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have made a new and useful Improvement in Display Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to display devices for use in store windows, on counters, in cases or elsewhere and consists in providing dis play stands or platforms with mechanism for partially rotating one or more of the stands or platforms in alternating directions.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an efficient mechanism for obtaining such a display. Another object is to provide means for varying the size of the rotating platforms and for varying the number of moving displays in one window, so that one or two large articles, as pieces of furniture, may be exhibited together, or one or more small articles, as hats, may be shown on individual, rotating stands, without changing the permanent installation of the device or seriously interfering with the machinery. Another object is to easily remove the rotating platforms and leave the window or other display chamber or space in suitable condition for the ordinary fixed display. 7

In the accompanying (flrawings. forming part of this disclosure, Figure 1 is a horizontal section thru a store show window and a plan of my driving mechanism operating several rotating platforms; Fig. 2 is a vertical section thru the driving mechanism and is taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 and drawn to a larger s :ale; Fig. 3 is a vertical section thru a portion of the wiiulow floor and one of the rotating platforms, its mounting and individual driving element, and Fig. is a horizontal section on line 4.t of Fig. 3.

The platforms 1, are operated. by reciprocating links 2 which are connected serially and actuated by a main rod 3 connected to one of them. The mechanism which drives rod 3 is best shown in Fig. 2. A motor 4: either directly or indirectly drives shaft 5 which carries a worm 6 engaging a worm wheel 7 mounted on a vertical shaft 8. A pinion 9 on shaft 8 meshes with a gear 10 carried by a vertical shaft 11. A base plate 12, provided with a cam groove 13, is secured to the shaft 11 adjacent to the upper extremity thereof as best illustrated in Fig. 1. A reciprocating cam follower bar 14 1s provided at one extremity with a roller 15, adapted to co-operate with the groove 13,

and with a stud 16 adjacent to its other extremity for engagement with the main rod 3. A guide member 17 is secured to the mechanism frame and maintains the follower bar 14: against displacement.

It will be noted that worm 6, gear 7, pinion 9 and gear 10 constitute a reduction gearing for the shaft 11 and cam 12 so that the latter rotates at a relatively low speed and hencev reciprocates the follower bar 14 very slowly. The cam groove 13 is so shaped that a period of substantial rest transpires near each end of its reciprocal movement. The rod 3 is reciprocated by the bar 14 and its movement is transmitted to all of the links 2.

Each platform 1 is mounted upon a shaft 18 which extends upwardly to a plane even with or slightly below that of the floor. 19. Shafts 18 are rotatably mounted upon step bearings 18' carried by a base or stand 20 secured in position beneath floor 19. Each shaft 18 has a pinion 21 removably secured thereto adjacent to its lower end. The base 20 is provided with a boss 20' which is offset with respect to the bearings 18 and carries a stud shaft 20". A segmental. gear 22 is mounted. for oscillative movement upon the vertically disposed shaft 20 which is in the same plane for co-operation with the pinion 21. An arm 23 forms an integral part of gearQQ. and extends outwardly diametrally opposite to the toothed portion of the gear. The outer extremity of the arm 23 is provided with a stud 23 to which the link 2 is adapted to be detachably connected.

The reciprocatory motion of the links will impart an oscillative movement to the arms 23 and gears 22 and cause a corresponding movement of the pinion 21 and shaft 18. By varying the relative pitch diameters of segment 22 and pinion 21, the amount of rotation of the latter and of platform 1 may be varied. Preferably, this rotation should be approximately 180 degrees in a cloclc wise direction and then 180 degrees in a counterclockwise direction.

Any of the platforms may be used as a stationary mounting by disconnecting its operating link and any or all of the platforms may be removed from their shafts by removing their set screws 24 and the window may be used in the ordinary way. Various sizes of platforms may be substituted for those shown according to the character of the merchandise displayed. If such a change was made, the two platforms adjacent the central platform would be removed and the remaining platforms could be left in and operated with the large central platform at the same or at different speeds.

The use of the link construction makes it feasible to add other units whenever desired. The device may be applied to a store counter and the links run thruout the length of the counter and be connected at will to any number of display stands. Its interchangeable features and noiseless, economical operation makes the display device a substantial improvement over any others of which I am aware.

I claim:

l. A display device, comprising a plurality of movable platforms, separate and independent operating mechanism for each of said platforms, 'llnkage mechanism detachably connecting said operating mechanisms to Cause said platformsto move in unison and to permit of the arrangement of said platforms in various relative positions and means for actuating said linkage mechamsm.

2. A display device comprising a plurality of intermittently movable platforms, separate and independent operating mechanism for each of said platforms, linkage mechanism detachably connecting said operating mechanism to cause said platforms to move in unison and to permit of the lateral arrangement in various relative positions and means for actuating said linkage mechanism. 3. A display device comprising a plurality of movable platforms, separate and independent actuating mechanism for each of said platforms adapted to intermittently rotate the same, reciprocable linkage mechanism detachably connecting said actuating mechanism to cause said platforms to rotate in unison, a power device and reciprocating means operatively connecting said linkage mechanism therewith.

l. In a display device, a plurality of platforms rotatably mounted, individual driving members for each of said platforms adapted to intermittently rotate said platforms in opposite directions, elements connecting said driving members so that operation of one of said members will operate all of said memmembers.

5. In a display device, a pluralityof platforms rotatably mounted, indivgidual driving members for each of said platforms, a reciprocating mechanism and means for detachably connecting said mechanism to any number of said driving members.

6. In a display device, a plurality of platforms mounted on shafts provided with fixed pinions, individual gears adapted to mesh with said pinions, to be rotated in opposite directions and to rotate said pinions and platforms in opposite directions, a series of link units connecting said gears and a reciprocating element operatively connected to one of said units.

7. In a display mechanism, a series of rotatable platforms mounted upon individual shafts each of which is provided with a pinion, a segmental gear meshing with each of said pinions and having an arm extending oppositely from its toothed portion, link units connecting each of said arms with an adjacent arm and a reciprocating mechanism having connection to one of said links.

8, In a display mechanism, operating mechanism, adapted to be mounted below a floor surface, including a plurality of rotating, vertical shafts adapted to terminate below the top of the floor surface, and display platforms adapted to be located above the floor surface, to be removably mounted upon said shafts and to be rotated thereby.

9. A display device, comprising a plurality of movable platforms, transmission mechanism connecting said platforms to enable them to be moved in unison and means whereby each of said platforms may be independently disconnected from said transmission mechanism without affecting the operation of the other of said platforms.

1(). A displav device, comprising a plurality of movable platforms, transmission mechanism connecting said platforms to enable them to be moved'in unison, said trans mission mechanism permitting said. platforms to be arranged in a plurality of positions relative to each other and means whereby each of said platforms may be independently disconnected from said transmission mechanism without affecting the operation of the other of said platforms.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this '21 day of August, 

